Allardyce retreats to bunker as tie threatens to be last throw of the dice

[Bombadil 0]

Defeat against Stoke City in the FA Cup could be curtains for Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce

 

Louise Taylor

 

Sam Allardyce is expected to spend much of today holed up behind a door labelled War Room at Newcastle United's training ground. It is the command module where he and his many coaches plot their strategies and must now devise the tactics to undo Stoke City in Sunday's FA Cup tie in the Potteries.

 

Should such battle plans prove flawed Mike Ashley, Newcastle's owner, may decide to break his holiday in order to sack the manager who was appointed only days before he bought the club last summer. After three consecutive Premier League defeats Allardyce cannot afford another reverse against Championship opposition in a competition which offers Newcastle's sole hope of glory this season.

 

Inside the War Room Allardyce and his cohorts are likely to devote considerable time to identifying Stoke's strengths and weaknesses, but the former Bolton Wanderers manager's critics argue that such preparations can prove counterproductive.

 

Indeed, some Newcastle players believe far too many hours have been invested in talking about stopping the opposition rather than burnishing their own skills. Some weeks ago one of the bolder members of the Magpies' squad is reputed to have sat through about 30 minutes of Newcastle's manager lecturing on dealing with the dangers posed by their pending opponents' key winger before piping up with "But what do you want us to do when we've got the ball?"

 

Yesterday a handful of players, including the supposed sceptics Nicky Butt and James Milner, insisted "We are behind the gaffer" but the true strength and sincerity of such declarations will not be known until Newcastle are defending some of Stoke's trickier set-piece routines this weekend.

 

Much of Allardyce's problems on Tyneside have stemmed from dead-ball situations. At Bolton he enjoyed a reputation for choreographing them but even though the Newcastle defence has been restaffed with his own summer buys his new team have a habit of conceding soft goals from corners and free-kicks.

 

Newcastle have long been suspect at the back but, under Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson especially, such flaws were often camouflaged by vibrant attacking. Unfortunately flair has been conspicuous by its absence from the midfield and attack this season as Allardyce has implemented a watered-down version of Bolton's percentage game. As one former leading Newcastle player said this week: "His style of football is going to kill Sam here. Sooner or later it will get him sacked."

 

Perhaps mindful of similar criticism from Robson in his newspaper column, Allardyce seemed willing to risk an ideological compromise on Wednesday night against Manchester City, replacing his beloved 4-3-3 formation with a crowd-pleasing 4-4-2 that featured two wingers in Milner and Damien Duff. But City's considered approach saw them withstand an early barrage and depart with a 2-0 victory which left the home manager admitting that dressing-room morale was at its lowest ebb since his installation as Glenn Roeder's successor.

 

Last year was tough all round for Allardyce, whose Bolton side undid a fine beginning to the 2006-07 season by accruing fewer points than Roeder's ailing Newcastle in the second half of that campaign.

 

Bookmakers are predicting that Alan Shearer will have succeeded him at St James's before 2008 is much older but, although the former Newcastle and England captain is idolised on Tyneside, not every Toon Army foot soldier is a devotee. When Shearer fell out with Ruud Gullit the supporters were divided as to whether the Dutch manager or Geordie striker should be the man to leave.

 

Eventually Gullit resigned, impressing the then chairman, Freddy Shepherd, by refusing to demand a pay-off. It is hard to envisage Allardyce, who is on a lucrative three-year contract, following suit and the heavy compensation payable to the manager and staff in the event of dismissal are possibly deterring Ashley from acting.

 

The precise composition of Allardyce's back-room staff remains unclear because the club are reluctant to divulge details of who is employed, but that support body is vastly expanded on the one that served Roeder last season. "Sam's got about 100 coaches, 'ologists and scouts working for him," joked one rival manager. "You wonder where he puts them all." The true figure is about 32, Allardyce having recruited more than 20 staff, including Dr Mark Nesti, a clinical pyschologist.

 

Detractors claim Allardyce is blinded by science, regarding ProZone as an oracle rather than a coaching tool, but instead of properly explaining his plans Newcastle's manager has often proved a poor communicator.

 

His cause has not been helped by his refusal to speak to the BBC in the wake of a Panorama investigation into corruption in football in which the then Bolton manager and his son Craig loomed large. Outraged at what he considered unjustified slurs, Allardyce threatened to sue the corporation but the deadline by which a libel suit could have been initiated passed without action, and his continuing silence in front of BBC microphones mystifies many Newcastle fans living in an isolated region across which local broadcasters command a large and loyal following.

 

War rooms are all very well but Tyneside is no place for managers harbouring a bunker mentality.

 

I know it's from Louise Taylor, but there are one or two interesting bits in there. A backroom staff of 32 people!

Edited January 4, 2008 by Bombadil

[Happy Face 29]

It'd be an absoloute travesty if we sack Allardyce thgis season or before next.

[Guest alex]

Probably mainly because it's her but I honestly couldn't get past the 1st paragraph.

[bobbyshinton 59]

It'd be an absoloute travesty if we sack Allardyce thgis season or before next.

 

 

In your opinion.

 

My opinion is sack the bastard.

[Big TRon 0]

Indeed, some Newcastle players believe far too many hours have been invested in talking about stopping the opposition rather than burnishing their own skills. Some weeks ago one of the bolder members of the Magpies' squad is reputed to have sat through about 30 minutes of Newcastle's manager lecturing on dealing with the dangers posed by their pending opponents' key winger before piping up with "But what do you want us to do when we've got the ball?"

 

That bit rings uncomfortably true though.

[Happy Face 29]

It'd be an absoloute travesty if we sack Allardyce thgis season or before next.

 

 

In your opinion.

 

My opinion is sack the bastard.

 

s'what forums are all about isn't it. I'm getting a huge case of deja vu from the time we sacked Roeder though.

[Guest alex]

I agree he hasn't been given enough of a chance and I wouldn't sack him now. If he did get the sack though it would be down to him and the stupid mistakes etc. he's made this season even though the fans' expectations etc. would be blamed in many quarters. I think the board will stick with him until the summer at least though.

[Big TRon 0]

This thing about giving Sam time makes sense to a point, but what I'm getting sick of is people pointing to managers like Wenger and Ferguson as proof that longevity provides success. They are a million miles from Allardyce in style and approach. I am pretty sure that given 2-3 years Allardyce will turn things round, but with his mentality all he'll create is another Bolton. Unless he gives up everything he's believed in, he won't ever be able to challenge the top 4 IMO. That is depressing.

Edited January 4, 2008 by Big TRon

[Guest alex]

And Wenger won the double in his first season

[JawD 48]

And Wenger won the double in his first season

 

A very valid point.

 

Didnt read the article though. Just couldnt be arsed

[Ally 0]

Indeed, some Newcastle players believe far too many hours have been invested in talking about stopping the opposition rather than burnishing their own skills. Some weeks ago one of the bolder members of the Magpies' squad is reputed to have sat through about 30 minutes of Newcastle's manager lecturing on dealing with the dangers posed by their pending opponents' key winger before piping up with "But what do you want us to do when we've got the ball?"

 

That bit rings uncomfortably true though.

 

Indeed.

[Guest alex]

Given her agenda I'd suggest she made it up.

[Ken 119]

Louise Taylor = dribble

The end.

[LeazesMag 0]

Louise Taylor = dribble

The end.

 

like everything else in that rag of a paper

[Guest alex]

Louise Taylor = dribble

The end.

 

like everything else in that rag of a paper

James Richardson is alright. The football coverage is generally shite though.

[Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0]

Probably mainly because it's her but I honestly couldn't get past the 1st paragraph.

I got as far as:

 

Louise Taylor

[LeazesMag 0]

Louise Taylor = dribble

The end.

 

like everything else in that rag of a paper

James Richardson is alright. The football coverage is generally shite though.

 

contrary to popular opinion, I also think the Daily Mail is shite too

[Bombadil 0]

I think the Guardian's football coverage is infinitely better than the Times'. Their football podcasts are quite good too.

[RlCO 0]

Spotted louise taylor so just didn't read it, why waste your time?

[Kid Dynamite 6187]

Hes going to make the mistake of showing them too much respect. he needs to just put out the most attacking team we have and say lets fucking pepper their goal, they are a worse team, lets keep them in their own half for 90 minutes.

 

But you just know hes going to say 'a draw will be ok cos then we can take them back to our place', we sit back, concede early and are on the back foot for the rest of the game. I can see these things!

[sammynb 2934]

That's it, if she's trying to support my argument, I'm all for backing Sam to the hilt*, dirty mackem twat that she is.

 

* I reserve the right to return to my previous belief when all has died down and she has pulled her head back in.

[Happy Face 29]

Sam Allardyce's position at Newcastle United will not be decided on the outcome of the club's FA Cup third-round tie at Stoke City on Sunday.

 

Even were they to lose, the strong message from the hierarchy at St James' Park is that Allardyce will be in charge for the Premier League games against Manchester United and Bolton Wanderers that follow, and the determination of the owner, Mike Ashley, and the chairman, Chris Mort, to stand by the manager means that he is likely to be at the club at the end of the season. Stoke is not make or break.

 

Fans critical of Allardyce's tactics will not be pleased to hear this but there is a significant number of Newcastle supporters who wish to see the board stick with the manager, for the sake of continuity as much as Allardyce's popularity.

 

Mort said after Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea that he finds speculation surrounding Allardyce "tedious" and that "there is just no truth in it".

 

The chairman was not inclined to repeat the message yesterday in the wake of Wednesday's 2-0 home loss to Manchester City, but that is not because he is backtracking from his weekend statement.

 

It is because he is wary and weary of issuing phrases that can be interpreted as a vote of confidence.

 

Allardyce had staked some of his managerial reputation on being able to control Barton but, if Ashley and Mort are dismayed by developments, it is not affecting their intention to remain with Allardyce.

 

But the two men at the top are desperate for an FA Cup run to help to breathe life into a season scarred by defeats and unrest.

 

Failure at Stoke – like Barton – may be used as evidence against Allardyce in the longer term. In the short term, the hierarchy does not regard his position as untenable.

 

But they know that a run of three straight losses in the League over Christmas, including 1-0 at Wigan, has further undermined the manager's appeal locally.

 

It was limited by earlier losing displays against Portsmouth and Liverpool in November, and the club are aware that selling season tickets, even to a famously loyal fanbase, is not to be taken for granted in the current economic climate.

 

Significant number?

 

Significant majority would be a better choice of words.

[Craig 6381]

Probably mainly because it's her but I honestly couldn't get past the 1st paragraph.

 

I couldn't get past the second line. As soon as I saw her name I just though "fuck off you obsessed bitch...."

[Bombadil 0]

Sam Allardyce's position at Newcastle United will not be decided on the outcome of the club's FA Cup third-round tie at Stoke City on Sunday.

 

Even were they to lose, the strong message from the hierarchy at St James' Park is that Allardyce will be in charge for the Premier League games against Manchester United and Bolton Wanderers that follow, and the determination of the owner, Mike Ashley, and the chairman, Chris Mort, to stand by the manager means that he is likely to be at the club at the end of the season. Stoke is not make or break.

 

Fans critical of Allardyce's tactics will not be pleased to hear this but there is a significant number of Newcastle supporters who wish to see the board stick with the manager, for the sake of continuity as much as Allardyce's popularity.

 

Mort said after Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea that he finds speculation surrounding Allardyce "tedious" and that "there is just no truth in it".

 

The chairman was not inclined to repeat the message yesterday in the wake of Wednesday's 2-0 home loss to Manchester City, but that is not because he is backtracking from his weekend statement.

 

It is because he is wary and weary of issuing phrases that can be interpreted as a vote of confidence.

 

Allardyce had staked some of his managerial reputation on being able to control Barton but, if Ashley and Mort are dismayed by developments, it is not affecting their intention to remain with Allardyce.

 

But the two men at the top are desperate for an FA Cup run to help to breathe life into a season scarred by defeats and unrest.

 

Failure at Stoke – like Barton – may be used as evidence against Allardyce in the longer term. In the short term, the hierarchy does not regard his position as untenable.

 

But they know that a run of three straight losses in the League over Christmas, including 1-0 at Wigan, has further undermined the manager's appeal locally.

 

It was limited by earlier losing displays against Portsmouth and Liverpool in November, and the club are aware that selling season tickets, even to a famously loyal fanbase, is not to be taken for granted in the current economic climate.

 

Significant number?

 

Significant majority would be a better choice of words.

 

Where's that from?

[Happy Face 29]

Sam Allardyce's position at Newcastle United will not be decided on the outcome of the club's FA Cup third-round tie at Stoke City on Sunday.

 

Even were they to lose, the strong message from the hierarchy at St James' Park is that Allardyce will be in charge for the Premier League games against Manchester United and Bolton Wanderers that follow, and the determination of the owner, Mike Ashley, and the chairman, Chris Mort, to stand by the manager means that he is likely to be at the club at the end of the season. Stoke is not make or break.

 

Fans critical of Allardyce's tactics will not be pleased to hear this but there is a significant number of Newcastle supporters who wish to see the board stick with the manager, for the sake of continuity as much as Allardyce's popularity.

 

Mort said after Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea that he finds speculation surrounding Allardyce "tedious" and that "there is just no truth in it".

 

The chairman was not inclined to repeat the message yesterday in the wake of Wednesday's 2-0 home loss to Manchester City, but that is not because he is backtracking from his weekend statement.

 

It is because he is wary and weary of issuing phrases that can be interpreted as a vote of confidence.

 

Allardyce had staked some of his managerial reputation on being able to control Barton but, if Ashley and Mort are dismayed by developments, it is not affecting their intention to remain with Allardyce.

 

But the two men at the top are desperate for an FA Cup run to help to breathe life into a season scarred by defeats and unrest.

 

Failure at Stoke – like Barton – may be used as evidence against Allardyce in the longer term. In the short term, the hierarchy does not regard his position as untenable.

 

But they know that a run of three straight losses in the League over Christmas, including 1-0 at Wigan, has further undermined the manager's appeal locally.

 

It was limited by earlier losing displays against Portsmouth and Liverpool in November, and the club are aware that selling season tickets, even to a famously loyal fanbase, is not to be taken for granted in the current economic climate.

 

Significant number?

 

Significant majority would be a better choice of words.

 

Where's that from?

 

.com quoting The Telegraph, but I couldn't find it on the site.